Emma:My Grandmother was the reason I set the business up. She travelled far and wide and collected natural soap from around the globe. When she died there were bars and bars stockpiled. It was only when the piles dwindled and as a family we needed to buy our own soap I realised you couldn't get anything natural from the High St or at an affordable price. Little Soap Company was the first organic soap to hit the supermarket shelf – we’re in all the main stores with our bar soaps and a range of 9 exclusive products in Waitrose.

Kayleigh:My Auntie Maureen she is humble loving and always makes me laugh. I cherish the times we have together as she teaches me to be grateful and to be happy.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Emma:Always dress as the person you want to be.

Kayleigh:Kindness doesn’t cost you anything.

What do you wear when nobody’s watching?

Emma:Jersey PJ bottoms and a vest top!

Kayleigh:Sweatshirt and PJ shorts.

What’s the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?

Emma:I usually fall out of bed and get straight into my sports kit - if I don’t do that the run doesn’t happen! I live very rurally and love being out in the fields and lanes – it’s my thinking time to visualize and plan the day ahead.

Kayleigh:Turn on the radio to wake me up and start the day in a good mood listening to good songs.

What do you do to wind-down after a long day at work?

Emma: It has to be a hot bubble bath – that’s the one good thing about having soap on tap! Our Little Soap Company Organic Rose Geranium is my favourite flavour - whenever I work away, the one thing I always try and sort is a bath in the room.

Kayleigh: In the summer I love to go on walks in the fields near my house to clear my mind from a busy day.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Emma:An hour or so on the sofa, cocooned in my tv blanket, catch up Coronation Street, a pint mug of peppermint tea and a chunk of dark chocolate.

Kayleigh:Anything sweet what more can I say.

How do you maintain a good work-life balance?

Emma:I diarize everything. I’m incredibly visual and have different coloured calendars for work, home, exercise and social on top of the usual work team calendars. It looks crazy but it has always worked for me as I have an immediate insight of everything going on that day for me and the team. I’m a good organizer, so if it’s blocked out, it happens. In an ideal world I try and schedule two nights a week free and keep the weekends totally sacred for family time…. granted though, it’s still a work in progress!

Kayleigh:Making sure I switch off and relax out of hours and to spend quality time with friends and family.

What’s your secret to success?

Emma:Never take no for an answer and never ever, ever, ever let others tell you something can’t be done.

What was the first job you ever had?

Emma:I was 14 and worked as the pharmacist’s assistant at the chemist up the road from our family home every day after school and on Saturdays. Inadvertently that kick started my love of natural medicine and pure skincare.

What are the three things you can’t live without in your work wear wardrobe?

Emma:Heels. Little black dress. Mulberry handbag.

Kayleigh:Jewellery is a big staple to finish off a plain outfit, a comfy pair of flats and black pencil skirt.

What’s an average day like now you’re the boss?

Emma:I’m naturally an early riser and do the majority of my to-do list from dawn. I love the quiet that uninterrupted time of day brings. From 9am onwards though, every day is different - I can be glammed up speaking about the Little Soap Journey or natural skincare, to being in jeans and t-shirt up to my elbows in oils at the factory the next! I embrace the variety, even in the offices and workshop every day is different – we teach Little Soap School courses daily from our Broadway workshop which I love to pop in on when I am about as well as spend several days a week in the office with the team planning NPD. Other times
I’m on the road seeing supermarket buyers or supplier. Every single day and evening is different. It’s been a long road getting things to this stage but it’s wonderful now we are finally here and the brand is growing.